Add: 1/2 pack dry yeast, no starter

Ive got one smackpack activator wyeast english ale 1028, and I was wondering if I could pitch half a pack of dry windsor ale yeast aswell as the smackpack instead of making a starter and also add a teaspoon of nutrients to the boil for a sufficient amount to ferment my beer?

Will the smackpack and the half package of activated dry yeast plus a bit 'o nutrients be enough or should I really make a starter?
OR just add in a full pack of dry rather than half?

I'd rather have more of the wyeast characters so thats why I'm not just pitching dry yeast...

EDIT: Im making a dead guy ale at 1.066 predicted OG, all grain batch (first one woot!)

I think that what would happen is that the Windsor yeast would still outnumber the Wyeast, and have it half way finished before the Wyeast yeast was even done reproducing.

would the wyeast plus some nutrients in the boil be sufficient rather than a starter?

The reason I'm avoiding a starter is for one thing, Ive never made one before and another, I dont have any LME or DME to make one with... only honey which apparently isn't good enough... I also plan on brewing at 7am tomorrow which is in 11.5hrs

cheschire said:

would the wyeast plus some nutrients in the boil be sufficient rather than a starter?

The reason I'm avoiding a starter is for one thing, Ive never made one before and another, I dont have any LME or DME to make one with... only honey which apparently isn't good enough... I also plan on brewing at 7am tomorrow which is in 11.5hrs

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What's the OG, and what is the date on the package?

Edit- I see the OG, and that's a little high to go without a starter. Even Wyeast doesn't suggest just pitching it without a starter with that OG. However, if the yeast is superfresh, you may be able to get away with it. Make sure you aerate the wort like your life depended on it, to ensure good oxygen levels for the yeast to reproduce.

OG should be 1.066 and the date is april 26, 2010

do you think adding nutrients to the boil will help at all or is the smackpack already filled with a good enough amount?

Your vial should be 86% viable

For that batch you'll need 234 billion cells

The number of vials you'd need without a starter is 2.0

The number of vials you'd need with a starter is 1, the starter size would be 3L.

Those nutrients and the half packet should be enough, IMO.

alright, well I geuss there no better way to learn than through experience...

It will be fine. I stopped using starters except on beers over 1.075.

cheschire said:

alright, well I geuss there no better way to learn than through experience...

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+1

But HBT is pretty sweet at getting answers too. I prefer to learn from positive experiences myself